A tragic incident occurred in Greenwood, where a 13-year-old boy was critically injured by gunfire at around 1 a.m. yesterday. The victim, whose identity has not been released, was found in the 1100 block of Crescent Drive and swiftly transported to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis, as reported by FOX59. The Greenwood Police Department initially thought to be responding to an attempted suicide, arrived to a much more harrowing scene: A young boy suffering from a gunshot wound.
During the investigation that followed, it emerged the boy was among six juveniles who had been playing with a gun. A second 13-year-old boy pointed the gun at the victim and fired it, critically injuring him. According to details obtained by WRTV, five of the juveniles promptly fled the scene, leaving the victim behind. The suspected shooter was later arrested and is now being held at the Johnson County Juvenile Detention Facility on a preliminary charge of attempted murder.
Neighbors and the surrounding community have been left to reckon with the unsettling reality of gun violence and its accessibility to children. Local resident Chad Smothers, speaking to WTHR, expressed that such episodes underscore the critical importance of gun safety. "If the gun was already in the house, I got to say there's got to be better safety precautions with parents of kids that are old enough to be able to hold something and handle something like that, parents fault," Smothers said. He added, "If your kids aren't aware of the serious nature of what a gun looks like and what it can do and what to do if you see one, then have that talk with your kids."
The repercussions of the incident are being felt throughout the local community, with Greenwood Middle School, where some of the juveniles attend, announcing a two-hour delay today to prepare support for students in the wake of the shooting. The school's Veterans Day program was also rescheduled as they plan to offer counseling services for students and facilitate open discussions about the tragedy. This was confirmed in a release from the Greenwood Community School Corporation, which was cited by WTHR.
